War by definition is the fight against tyranny. People align themselves with an ideology that they believe best establishes freedom and suppresses tyranny. Ironically, in the circumstances that lead to war, definitions of freedom and tyranny become so polarized that dialogue seems futile and people resort to active conflict to silence, even eliminate, the opposition. This happened in the War Between the States (U.S. Civil War), it happened in Sri Lanka’s race war where we worked for ten years, it is happening in the Middle East, and signs of war are emerging again in the United States.

Both progressives and conservatives believe they are fighting against tyranny. The rhetoric being used to justify actions – on both sides – is similar. Currently conservatives are in power, so progressives resist the tyranny of “authoritarianism” and “dictatorship” they believe is being promulgated by conservative party leaders.

Both sides appeal to the “Law” to fight for their causes and ideals, but increasingly the legal system is compromised and is therefore unable to resolve tensions between conflicting values and people who no longer trust or respect each other. If the polarization is not resolved – by people abandoning extreme views and embracing an “ideological middle” – war is inevitable. Dialogue fails when people stop listening to each other. They then move to their “corners” and engage in a war of words that usually utilizes superlatives, vulgarities, character assassination, and threats. Mass protests follow. Protests – which are a precursor of war – serve as a kind of hybrid between verbal (ranting speeches, posters and slogans) and active rebellion (marching, street gatherings, looting and rock throwing) that short of resolve or suppression will inevitably decay into destruction of property and killing.

It is my belief that the United States is on the brink of such a civil war. The war of words has already begun. Protests have been happening since January 6, 2021. If a civil war starts under our current administration, it will begin in progressive led cities and will spread, intentionally, by well funded people who are committed to overthrowing the current power structure. If civil war can be avoided in the near term, and the next election brings a change of leadership that puts progressives in power, then conservatives will resist, perhaps in the same way.

Either way, the United States is in serious trouble. Our polarized values are incompatible. Ultimately we cannot live together in peace with such disparate values and ideals. Ideological compromise… defined by the abandonment of extremely polarizing beliefs… must happen. Short of that, war – the killing of large numbers of people who hold to a value system that the opposing side will no longer tolerate – will happen. We are naive to think otherwise.

I am usually not a pessimist, but in this current reality, I no longer believe we can avoid war. Perhaps we can delay it for a time by continued legal wrangling and public protests to let people blow off steam, but the disparity of values seems now to be “set in concrete” on both sides of the ideological spectrum. People are not backing down. Only the iron will and brute force of leaders in power is keeping the other side from exploding into violent rebellion. Currently conservatives wield the sword. If progressives gain power in a future election, the same ideological disparities will produce the same levels of resistance from the other side.

Sadly, ideological polarization is reality for much of the world. It isn’t a new phenomenon. Humans have fought wars throughout history for these same reasons. What is unique today is that we hear and see the disparities at every moment through the miracle of modern travel and communication. And, we now have weaponry that makes conflict much more dangerous.

Christians should not be surprised. Jesus predicted these things. In the final analysis, the hope of Christians is not in the world’s ability to resolve our differences – even though humans have that ability to a limited degree. Our hope is in God who will not be mocked and whose purposes will prevail.